Monday, April 18, 2011

The French government warned its citizens against traveling to its former colony Burkina Faso following army protests that started on Thursday last week due to high risk of kidnapping and robbery.

"The situation in Burkina Faso, especially Ouagadougou, is currently marked by tension due to the soldier's protest," the French foreign ministry said.

As the unrest enter its fourth day, members of the presidential guard are protesting against President Blaise Compaoré over daily food allowances and payment of housing, government sources said, in a report by Al Jazeera.

Two people were reported to have been hurt according to a hospital source.

The mutineers have stormed a town in the southern part of the Western African nation with over 15 million inhabitants by looting, firing in the air and seizing of private cars, witnesses told the AFP news agency.

On Sunday, the capital Ouagadougou was quiet when curfew was imposed, VOA News reported.

On Thursday, tens of thousands of people marched in the capital and ten other towns airing discontent over high cost of living.

Compaoré abolished the government the following day, sacked his presidential security chief officer, and revamped his Cabinet.

Soldiers fired heavy weapons and demanded payment of their allowances.